Makes getting "buzz cut" look like kindergarten.
Michigan's Jim Harbaugh showing his true colors — and they're ugly
Chicago Tribune
By Teddy Greenstein
January 21, 2016
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-michigan-s-jim-harbaugh-showing-his-true-colors-and-they-re-ugly-20160121-column.html
The real Harbaugh is the one who just told a left tackle from Downers Grove South who was verbally committed to Michigan for two-plus years to take a hike. Actually, Harbaugh didn't tell Erik Swenson. Apparently he was too busy posing for selfies. So he had his offensive line coach, Tim Drevno, do it.
....
When Harbaugh was at Stanford, he secured a verbal commitment from Kain Colter. Even had Colter spend time with fellow quarterback Andrew Luck during a campus visit.
After Colter injured his throwing shoulder, Stanford coaches asked for MRIs and pretended they needed clearance from the admissions office, despite Colter's 4.2 grade-point average. Then they stopped calling altogether.
No wonder Colter thinks college football players should be considered employees. He got fired before setting foot on Northwestern's campus.
...
I'll give Harbaugh this: He is making a mockery of a system that is already a joke. "Committing" to a school does not mean you're committed until the fax comes through on national signing day in early February. Kids have played the con game for years, "verbaling" to a MAC or Sun Belt school while hoping to pounce on a Big Ten or SEC offer.
The solution is to allow kids to actually sign with schools the summer before their senior season. But coaches like Harbaugh don't want that. They want to be able to drop verbally committed players they sour on. Swenson is reportedly one of six recruits in the 2016 class who will not play for Michigan, as they had originally planned.
No solution is needed. Both player and coach can move on whenever they want.
The first kid, if I have this correctly, committed to another coach. I know it sucks, but Harbaugh is also trying to keep his job...why should he have to commit to the kid?
Quote from: robmufan on January 21, 2016, 01:50:40 PM
The first kid, if I have this correctly, committed to another coach. I know it sucks, but Harbaugh is also trying to keep his job...why should he have to commit to the kid?
Yes, he committed to Brady Hoke. How hard would it be for Harbaugh to call, say something nice, and then tell him they are going in a different direction?
Quote from: Heisenberg on January 21, 2016, 02:18:28 PM
Yes, he committed to Brady Hoke. How hard would it be for Harbaugh to call, say something nice, and then tell him they are going in a different direction?
LOL. Should he have sent flowers too?
When someone gets let go at a place of business, is it the owner that lets them go, or a manager (or Coordinator)?
When some one gets hired at a place of business, is it the owner that hires them or a manager; i.e. not a apples to apples comparison IMO because Harbaugh participated in his recruiting didn't he?
No, Brady Hoke did...the coach that was since let go.
When I was hired, I was hired/interviewed by the owner of the company. That might be small business though. I do see your point...
Quote from: Waldo Jeffers on January 21, 2016, 03:59:54 PM
When some one gets hired at a place of business, is it the owner that hires them or a manager; i.e. not a apples to apples comparison IMO because Harbaugh participated in his recruiting didn't he?
Committing to a school is a big deal. Especially for a kid that was committed to Michigan for two years. I understand things change. I don't fault him for not taking a Hoke recruit.
That said, Harbaugh could have been man enough to explain it directly to the kid. Not doing so says he lacks integrity and is a weasel hiding behind his coordinator.
Quote from: Heisenberg on January 21, 2016, 04:09:57 PM
Committing to a school is a big deal. Especially for a kid that was committed to Michigan for two years. I understand things change. I don't fault him for not taking a Hoke recruit.
That said, Harbaugh could have been man enough to explain it directly to the kid. Not doing so says he lacks integrity and is a weasel hiding behind his coordinator.
A WEASELY WEASEL coach indeed. Much better to bury the knife in the kid's chest than his back, right? Betraying a kid to his face, now that's just GRITTY footbaw coaching.
Newsflash folks: It's a cutthroat industry. Enjoy the sausage, don't watch it get made.
Quote from: Heisenberg on January 21, 2016, 02:18:28 PM
Yes, he committed to Brady Hoke. How hard would it be for Harbaugh to call, say something nice, and then tell him they are going in a different direction?
Maybe Harbaugh could have gotten the kid a goodbye knobber?
Quote from: jficke13 on January 21, 2016, 04:27:57 PM
A WEASELY WEASEL coach indeed. Much better to bury the knife in the kid's chest than his back, right? Betraying a kid to his face, now that's just GRITTY footbaw coaching.
Newsflash folks: It's a cutthroat industry. Enjoy the sausage, don't watch it get made.
Hey Drew! Love your writing!
T-Cube's BIL, 'nough said, hey?
Not sure of the point of this story. Either A) someone woke Teddy up and he is just now realizing that college sports is a big money, cut throat business, or B) he's looking to take a swipe at Harbaugh (who in this instance is really no different than most coaches/programs).
Quote from: JWags85 on January 22, 2016, 10:46:39 AM
Hey Drew! Love your writing!
His deadspin voice is so easy to crib it's not funny. It's got nothing on Benny's impersonation of Myron Medcalf's insanity.
I had a full ride offer to Marquette as an offensive tackle in 2003. Then they decided to not reinstate the program. I am still in shock. :o
Harbaugh pulled a Newbill ala Buzz?
Quote from: Heisenberg on January 21, 2016, 04:09:57 PM
Committing to a school is a big deal. Especially for a kid that was committed to Michigan for two years. I understand things change. I don't fault him for not taking a Hoke recruit.
That said, Harbaugh could have been man enough to explain it directly to the kid. Not doing so says he lacks integrity and is a weasel hiding behind his coordinator.
Dude whatever - clearly a slow news cycle for anyone to pretend this is any kind of news at all. My smell test is when nothing was done wrong but people start playing the, "well he could have been nicer about it," line. Absolute non story.
Report: Ex-Mich. recruit's scholarship rescission wasn't sudden
By Nick Bromberg
7 hours ago
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/report--ex-michigan-recruit-s-scholarship-rescission-wasn-t-sudden-172912639.html
Swenson, an offensive lineman who committed to Michigan in November of 2013, said earlier this week that his offer had been rescinded by Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. According to The Wolverine, there were rumblings for some time that Swenson would not be heading to Michigan. Additionally, Swenson didn't go to a Michigan camp over the summer.
Michigan and Harbaugh received a lot of scorn after Swenson's revelation on Wednesday when it appeared the scholarship revocation was sudden.